An African lion attacked and killed a worker Wednesday at a California sanctuary for rare big cats, the Fresno County Sheriff's Office said.

Deputies shot and killed the male lion in its cage after the attack, which happened about 12:30 p.m. PT (3:30 p.m. ET).

No other details were immediately released.

The attack occurred at Project Survival's Cat Haven in Dunlap, roughly 45 miles east of Fresno. The sanctuary features about two dozen animals on 100 acres in the Sierra Nevada foothills, near King's Canyon National Park.

Other big cats, which from four continents, include tigers, jaguars, leopards and cheetahs.

A Department of Fish and Wildlife officer told the Fresno Bee that such an attack was "very rare" because of regulations limiting contact between the animals and humans.

"This facility has a very good history," said Lt. Tony Spada. "In this case, someone just got too close."